Lev confirmed that the men who had traveled with my brother were still being held.
“I’ll speak with them,” I offered.
“Hold on. Now?” Viktor frowned. “So soon?”
I nodded, glancing at Maksim. “Yes. The sooner, the better.”
“Hang on.” Lev stood, shaking his head. “That, uh, area isn’t ideal for someone like you to tour and?—”
I stood, sending him a cool smirk. “I’ve seen worse,” I reminded him dryly.
Maksim took my hand and didn’t let go as we walked toward the patio out back. Alexei offered to bring the Cartel men here, to the main house, instead of me going to Lev’s compound. Either way worked for me, so long as I could speak with those who had wanted to come with Arturo.
While we waited, I went through the names of the men who would likely be the most loyal to the memory of my father.
“Jorge is who I would choose to lead,” I said just before the men arrived.
They weren’t beaten or showing any signs of wear and tear. Upon facing me, their grim faces lit up.
“Miss Garcia,” one greeted warmly before wincing and ducking his head. “I’m sorry. Ms. Volkov.” He shook his head as he was led to stand before us seated in the shade on the patio. “It’s hard to remember you’re a married woman. In some ways, you’ll always be Miguel’s little princess.”
The other man huffed. “Princess? You must forget about the time when she beatallof the crew in a test trial in the field. Good afternoon, Ms. Volkov.” He dipped his chin in a bow. “It’s good to see you are well.”
“This isn’t a cordial visit,” I replied. “Is it also good to be here and know that my brother is now dead?”
They didn’t hesitate, didn’t flinch. “With all due respect, Ms. Volkov, yes.”
I glanced at Maksim, glad that he could hear and see what I was.
“Then let’s sit. And talk.” I gestured for them to be seated.
For hours, they brought me up-to-date about all that had been going wrong with the Cartel. The poorly led runs. The beating of men who dared to defy or argue with Arturo. The new habit of “loaning” runners to individuals my father never would have had patience for, like when Arturo sent Enrique and let him be beaten to death.
Food was brought out, and under my order and Adrik’s permission, the two Cartel men were shifted from the label of captives to guests. Visitors but also liaisons.
For the rest of the day, they filled us in about Arturo meeting with Yusef Antonov and how many in the Cartel worried that the Russian wanted to simply take over the Cartel.
“When Arturo asked for drivers for this trip,” the older one, Manuel, said, “Rolando and I jumped on the chance to come. We anticipated that Arturo wouldn’t return because of how he’d more or less arranged for that ambush targeting you recently. And if he could be taken out, we’d need to move quickly to avoid Antonov taking over.”
It confirmed all that I’d feared. Under my brother’s piss-poor leadership and his willingness to be swayed by an untrustworthy newcomer to the scene, he’d set the Cartel up to break apart. Dissenters like Manny and Rolando were just waiting for the chance to have Arturo ousted. They agreed that Jorge and a couple of others would be ideal to become the next boss. And they provided us with a list of the hard-core followers who would react violently to Arturo’s death.
“But I think I speak for them all that it would be ideal foryouto return and lead,” Rolando said with a wistful expression.
I shook my head. “I belong here, with my husband. With my Bratva.”
Maksim squeezed my hand. “However, that doesn’t mean an ambassador role can’t be provided.”
I smiled at him, knowing that he was proposing my involvement in the Cartel to both please me and also to ensure that we’d know what was happening with our allies.
“I can assist in seeing someone trusted in power. It will require a purge of those who followed Arturo, those who wished to side with Antonov. While it was never my duty to lead the Cartel, I will not walk away from leaving it as an organization that my father would have been proud of.”
They both agreed with this direction. Both thanked me and all the Volkovs for the extension of friendship.
This, too, wouldn’t be an overnight attempt. We concluded the meeting with plans to identify and round up the rogue ones most lured by whatever Yusef Antonov had promised Arturo. Then we would reassess the security of the Cartel. Plus a vote of whichcandidate—approved by me—could take the helm and rule the Cartel I had come from.
My future was here, with Maksim, and nothing would ever sway me from it.
39
